Data for this study come from the 2001–2002 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC, Wave I), which is described elsewhere in greater detail (Grant et al., 2003; Grant et al., 2004). Briefly, the NESARC, conducted by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and the Bureau of the Census, surveyed a nationally representative sample of non-institutionalized U.S. residents (citizens and non-citizens) aged 18 years and over. Respondents were identified using a multi-stage cluster sampling technique, and the sample was enhanced with members of group-living environments, such as dormitories, group homes, shelters, and facilities for housing workers. Jails, prisons, and hospitals were not included. The study over-sampled black and Hispanic households, as well as young adults aged 18 to 24 years, in order to have sufficient power to perform meaningful analyses focusing on these populations. Weights have been calculated to adjust standard errors for these over-samples, the cluster sampling technique, and non-response. The final sample consisted of 43,093 respondents, representing an 81% response rate. All respondents gave consent to participate. The current investigation utilized publicly accessible, de-identified data and was thus exempted from formal institutional review board review.
